Electrolytic cell



Patented Feb. 4, 1930 UNITED sizkrasA `linaTEN'r oFF-ICE FRANK FREDERICK POLAND, OF

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, AssreNoE To AMERICAN SMELTING .AND BEFINING COMPANY, OF NEW YORK,- NJY., A CORPORATION OF l NEW JERSEY ELECTROLYTIC CELL 'Application led February 11, 1928. Serial No. 253,556.

This'invention relates to. electrodes for i electrolytic cells and more particularly to an Aui ' -structed in accordance wlth this -fand electrode capable 'of carrying a heavy current without excessive losses.

The invention may be applied specifically to-a means for supporting a heavy electrodeandfor carrying current thereto. In a'type of electrolytic cell used in processes in which an extremely heavy current strength is required, such as for example metal refineries may be employed, means is provided for suspending the heavy electrode from'a support.- ing bar and for making an electrical contact between the electrode and the bar'which has.

an extremely low resistance whereby the reslstance losses are reduced to a ,mlnimunr In accordance with the present invention,

theelectrode is supported from the electrode bar by means of a shroud having a substantial width and so formed on its inner surface that afull surface contact ma be. obtained with the bar. The particular fbrm of shroud depenas largelyupon the contour of the supporting bar and should be such that a maximum area of contact is obtained betweenthe two elements.

yThe invention also consists in certain new ,and original features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

Although the novel features which are be'-v lieved to be characteristic of this invention will beparticularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto, the ingention itself, as Pto its objects and advantages, the mode of its voperation and the manner of its or anization ma be better understood by re erring to the 'ollowing description taken in c'on' nection with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, in which Fig. 1 is an elevation partly in section of an electrolytic cell having an electrode cony invention;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 2*-2 of Fig. 1 showing the electrode supporting shroud.

Like reference characters denote like parts.

inthe several gures of the drawings.

p The particular embodiment of the invention. which has been shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration, comprises an eleotrolytic cell having side walls 10 and an interior wall. 1.1 'by means of which the cell is divided into two as for example the anode, is provided with a pair of ears 13 which rest upon supporting members 14 upon walls 10 and 11 respectively. The other electrode 1 5, as for example the cathode, is supported from a cathode bar lwhich rests at one end upon supporting member 17 in contact with Wall 10. At the other end, Abar 16 makes' contact with and is supported by ear 13 of anode 12. A suitable groove may be provided in ear 13 to receive the end of bar 16 as indicated vin Fig. 1. The upper portion of bar 16 may be provided with a plurality of surfaces 20, 21 and 22 (F ig.`2) 1n order to increase the area of contact between 23 as will be described.

Cathode 15 is -hung from cathode bar 16 said bar and shroud parts. lAn electrode 12,

as by shroud 23 which isf passed over said vemployed to cause the shroud to firmly engage the sides' of cathode 15 and tomake a low resistance electrical connection -therewith. The upper portion 'of shroud 23 is preferably formed with a contour correspondig. to that of top surface of Ybar 16 whereby engagement may be made with each of the surfaces 20, 21 and 22 ofsaid bar. The sides of shroud 23 are preferably formed to contact with the sides of bar 16 although it is obvious that the-top surfaces will be under greater pressure due to the weight of cathode 15 'and will be'more important in determining the total resist-ance of the connection. v

The internal surface of shroud 23 inaddition to being formed in section corresponding to rod 16 is preferably formed sufficiently obtain in cases Where more than one shroud is employed for supporting the cathode, since -the interior surface of each shroud must be formed straight in a longitudinal direction and served to increase contact. It has and they must be properly aligned to enable a surface contact to be obtained rather than a line contact.

A particular source .of loss of power through the contacts ofthe supporting members for the electrodes is the corrosion of the.'

material, Which begins at the -edges of the shroudand penetrates inwardly toward the centerthereof for a limited distance. providing a single -Wide shroud only, tivo points are provided at which the corrosion may be initiated andthe total penetration thereof, being substantially constant irrespective ofA the shroud Width, is reduced to a smaller percentage ofthe total area involved. The use of a single Wide shroud, therefore, in place of a narrow shroud, or a plurality of narrow shrouds, not only gives a positive line contact between the shroud and the cathode bar, but-'limits the amount of corrosion in proportion to the shroud Width.

It has been found inpractice that the electrical properties of a shroud Constructed in accordance with this invention are considerably in excess of those heretofore obtained, principally due to the increased surface of contact and to the limited proporton of corrosion and also to the fact that it is practically impossible for Workmen to assemble the apparatus with the parts out of alignment.` The increased Weight in metal involved in the Wide shroud is more than odset by the reduced labor cost due to the elimination of aplurality of surfaces which had been heretofore employed, requiring alignment to obtain the necessaryV surfaoe been found in practice that accurate increases;

sov

the above type of shroud materially reduced l the voltage drop of the electrode connection the life of the various parts. The saving in labor and in current losses were considerable in the case of a large commercial installation. 'L

While certain novel features of the invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it Will be I understood thatv various omissions, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is A combination of an electrolytic cell, an electrode support therefor comprising a single U-shaped shroud, means for securing said shroud to said electrode, means for sup-- porting said shroud from a supporting rod, 

